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Driver in Vehicle-Pedestrian Accident Unlikely to Face Charges

By David Meyer

07/22/2012

( KAIR )--The driver of a sports utility vehicle who struck four pedestrians in a parking lot near the Atchison Riverfront at the conclusion of the Amelia Earhart Festival Saturday night isn’t expected to face charges.

That word today ( Monday ) from Atchison County Attorney Gerald Kuckelman.

Kuckelman said preliminary indications are that 47-year-old Walter McCullum Jr. of Leavenworth will not face charges, unless pending laboratory test results suggest otherwise.

The Kansas Highway Patrol says McCullum was attempting to exit a parking lot in the 100 block of South 2nd Street, just north of Mueller’s Lockeroom, when for an unknown reason his 2005 Ford Explorer accelerated rapidly and struck the pedestrians shortly after 10:15 p.m.

The Patrol says the pedestrians, 8-year-old Jessica Sutton, 38-year-old Lisa Sutton, 20-year-old Michael Watts, all of Atchison, and 52-year-old Franklin Cox of St. Joseph, were transported to the Atchison Hospital.

Jessica Sutton was later flown to Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City with disabling injuries and Lisa Sutton was later flown to the K-U Medical Center in Kansas City.

Atchison Police Chief Mike Wilson says Watts and Cox were treated and released.

A condition report on the Sutton’s wasn’t available., but Trooper Bryan Clark confirms their injuries were not life-threatening.

Wilson says McCullum was a vendor or participating with a vendor at the festival.

McCullum and three passengers in his vehicle were not hurt.

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